Green Wood Orchid (Small Woodland Orchid), Platanthera clavellata (Habenaria clavellata), Photo by Lorraine Anderson

Wednesday, August 8th, 2007 - Report by

This month of August seems to have some other commitments on Wednesdays which happens only rarely. Because Bette was busy on Wednesday, my daughter Kristen and I went on an adventure on Tuesday. I had heard of some Small Green Wood-orchids Platanthera clavellata on a floating sphagnum bog. These orchids are not supposed to be in Cook County and are rare in this state. I was told that I could see them with field glasses but I had always wanted to get to the floating masses. So with a rope in my hand, with Kristen at the other end, ski poles and camera I was able to get right up close and enjoy them It was SO EXCITING!!!

Around the county there seems to be a very abundant crop of blooming Large-leaf Asters (Woodsman's toilet paper) and also Canada Thistle. The thistle seems to be so invasive and also hard to get rid of. We have always had the foliage of the Large-leaf Asters but never so many flowers - why?